High power tube system



Aug. 30, 1932. J. A. wlLLouGHBY HIGH POWER TUBE SYSTEM Filed Jan. 8, 1929 2 Sheets-5h06# 2 IN V EN TOR.

E N T AT. .A

Patented Aug. 30, 1932 FFQE PATENT` Jenn (WILLOUGHBY, 0F CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS HIGH POWER TUBE SYSTEM Application led January 8, 1929. Serial'No. 331,002.

My invention relates broadly to high power tube systems and ymore particularly to a mounting for high power tubes by which the anode of the tube may-be maintained at a uniform temperature during operation of the tube system.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simplified construction of mounting for a high power tube where the anode of the l tube maybe maintained at uniform temperature by subjecting the anode to the impinging effects of a cooling medium at diiferent portions of the surface of the anode.

Another object of my invention is to proll vide a high power tube mounting where means for dissipating the heat developed under operating conditions are arranged adj acent to the anode for maintaining the surl face of the anode at a relatively low tem- "fi perature throughout its entire area.

Still another object of my invention is to' provide a mounting for a high power tube wherein the anode of the tube may be inserted inra nest of concentrically disposed varies.,

*"l each of which tend to direct a cooling' medium upon the exterior surface of the anode forv removing heat from the anode by continuous movement of the cooling` medium along dif-y Y ferent portions of the length of the anode. l A further object of my invention is to provide a construction of multiple vane syst-em for a high power tube mounting wherein a cooling medium may be directed against different portions of the anode vof the tube and subjected to a churning movement for rapidi ly dissipating the heat and iilm ofsteam bubbles which tend to form upon the exterior of the anode in water cooled tube systems, where- J by the anode of the tube may be maintained at an eiiicient operating temperature.

A. still further object Aof my invention is to provide a cooling system for a high power tube in which a cooling medium may be ciri culated about the anode of the tube and back pressure upon the cooling` medium relieved,

thereby permitting all portions of the tube to be uniformly cooled by Contact with the cooling' medium. v

Other and further objects of my invention will be apparent from the specification herecooling` structure of my invention;`Fig. 2 is 65 is a top plan view of the high power mounting taken on line 2-2 ofllig'ure 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through the high power tube mounting of Figure 1 on line 3-3 thereof; and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing' 'the arrangement of the cylindrical multiple vanes used to direct the cooling medium over the di'erent portions of the anode. v

Heretofore in the art methods of cooling high power tubes have not been entirely satisfactory. I have found that in the usual water cooling system for4 high power tubes where the intake water contacts with the lower portion of the anode and extends around the anode to a point adjacent the upper portion thereofto an outlet port,`the cooling of the anode is non-uniform. The intake water tends to cool the lower portion of the anode but the upper portion of the anode which assumes a very high temperature when in operation is in fact not cooled by the movement ofn the cooling water by reason of the obstruction offered by a film of steambubbles between the anode and the water within the jacket near the outlet,'preventing the proper dissipation of the heat from the anode through the medium ofthe circulating water. Since this undue heat of the anode cannot be reduced by the circulation of the water through the jacket, disastrous .results tok the tube y may be encountered.A The tube may become. gaseous and this, with highvacuum within the tube, may cause the tube tobe punctured from overheating and ruin thetube.

My invention is'directed-r toa solution of this cooling problem wherein a special jacket is provided aroundthe anode of the tube for the direction of cold air, moist air or water against the anode which maintains an even temperature throughout the length of the anode while the tube is in operating condition. I provide a multiplicity of cylindrical vanes nested one within the other and separated to provide separate channels for the cooling medium, the vanes terminating in slightly curved edges formingan annular orifice in different planes along the length of the anode. The vanes are so nested with respect to each other that the cooling medium tends to move along the walls of the channels between one wall which is at a higher temperature than the adjacent inner wall as a result of which the cooling vinedium at the annular orice is forced into a highly agitated state )by the diderences in temperature. set up resulting in an impingement or bombardment of the cooling lluid against the anode assisted bythe curvature of the annular orifice, thereby ell'ectively wiping oflany film of steam bubbles which may form when using water as a cooling me-v dium. In order to permit an eilective cooling throughout the entire length of the anode,

I provide means for eliminating back pressure near the outlet inthe jackets surrounding the anode. This enables the cooling medium to reach all parts of the anode and forceA olf or eliminate any insulating film ofsteam which might form adjacent the upper portions of the anode.t The effective cooling of the anode in the tube mounting of my invention increases the elliciency in operation of the high power tube, yand increases the life of the tube. f f

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character l designates a casting forming the jacket ofthe high power tube mounting which terminates in a header 2 having a downwardly depending annular rim 3 thereon forming an outletffor the cooling medium which discharges into an open annular trough 4 having annular baille plates 5 thereon. rl`he annular rim 3 is interiorly screw threaded to receive a correspondingly screw threaded portion of the trough 4. The annular trough 4 is suitably supported, as for example, by insulated pedestals 6 mounted upon suitable support 7 with a discharge port 8 extending fromy the annular trough4. The

header 2 is secured in spaced relation to the jacket 1 to permit the proper volume of discharge of the cooling medium from the multiple vane system within the jacket 1. The

\ header 2 is provided with an annular seat 9`which vreceives the flange 10 ofthe anode 11 of the high power tube 12. Suitable means are provided for locating the high power tube 12 in position on the header 2 such as, for example, by the clamps 14 which are adjustably secured in position by bolts 14. A hermetic seal is established by gasket 15 in proper position with respect to the flange 10. The clamps14 are. each slotted radially. and are shifted to asuita'ble position for locking the :tube in the holder. The radially positioned set screws 26 secure the header 2 in proper position.

, The multiplicity of vanes or separating C3 walls have been shown at 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

and 21 formed of thin metallic material which may be spun or pressed by a simple production operation and so shaped that the vanes nest one within the other in proper kspaced relation by virtue of outstruck spacing lugs formed at proper intervals in the vanes as I have indicated at 22. The spacing lugs may be of extremely small size suchas prick-punch marks or rivet heads, or other spacing members may be employed. The spacing members are so positioned along the vanes as to maintain an even spacing between the vanes. In order to solidlymountthe vanes with respect to each other and to reenforce the vanes intermediate the ends thereof, additionalspacing members may be employed. The size of the spacing members is so small that no substantial obstruction to the passage of wateror other cooling medium is offered. InA the drawings-the spacing and thickness of the vanes and the size of the spacing members have been considerably exaggerated in order to clearly. illustrate the invention.

In Figure 4, I have shown the manner in which the spacing members are alternately positioned in the cylindrical vanes. For example, in the cylindrical vane 16, lugs 22 may be positioned ait spaced intervals of, for example 120, while in vane 17, lugs 22a may be positioned at 120 from each other but remote from the position of the lugs 22y in vane 16. The next succeeding vane 18 is provided with lugs 225 spaced at angular distances of 120 but offset from the position of lugs 22a. The vanes terminate in different planes along the length of anode 11 and each are provided with a slightly inturned edge tovdirect the cooling medium against the anode 11. I have shown the edge at 23 shaped to direct the cooling medium against the surface of the anode 11. It will be observed that the vanes extend progressively along the length of theanode 11, vane 16 terminating adjacent the lower extremity of the anode 11 and the vane 2lfterminating adjacent the upper extremity of the anode 11. The inner wall of each vane is normally subjected to a higher temperature than the outer wall of each vane as the cooling medium progresses from the inlet port 25 to the upper end of the cooling jacket. This difference in `temperature serves to create upon discharge of the cooling medium adjacent the anode of the tube, a condition of agitation arising from the mixture of fluids of different temperatures assisted by the curved edge of the vane adjacent the tube anode. The agitation thus established serves to wipe off or eliminate any film of steam which might tend to collectr on the surface of the anode 11 when waterfis used as a cooling medium. The cooling process therefore becomes effective throughout the length of the anode and even in a position adjacent the upper end of the anode, the cooling is ell'ective by reason of the fact that any hlm or steam on the anode is destroyed by the swirling movement. Connection between the tube jacket l and the source of cooling medium is made at 25, the jacket l being suitably insulated from the source through an insulating sleeve of suitable material. By reason of the fact that discharge trough 4 is at atmospheric pressure the annular discharge port formed between the header 2 and the header 2 delivers the waste cooling fluid at atmospheric pressure and all tendency of air pockets forming in the tube of the cooling jacket caused by the flow of the cooling fluid is eliminated.

The cooling jacket of my invention may be properly proportioned to utilize different forms of cooling means. I employ air, cold air and moist air and water or oil may be used, the jacket being made large enough to allow the proper volume of the diiferent cooling means to pass through the vanes. If it is desired to employ moist air, water may be atomized in the tube leading from the blower to the inlet of the tube jacket. In the case of cold air, an electric refrigerator unit may be interposed in the path of the tube from the blower to the intake of the special jacket making the air cold prior to entrance into the jacket. When air is used as a cooling fluid the special jacket construction for tube mounting as described herein serves to eliminate the cumbersome hose coil system normally present in a water cooled system employed to insulate the high potential in the tube system from ground potential. lVhere air is used it is substantially non-conductive and is in fact a good dielectric so that insulation is of less importance, thereby elminating expense and complication in transmitter design at the same time rendering the transmitter more compact.

While I have described my invention in certain of its preferred embodiments, I desire that it be understood that modifications may be made and that no limitations upon my invention are intended other than are imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

l. In a high power tube system for tubes of the cylindrical anode type, a jacket in which said anode depends, means for introducing acooling medium into the lower end of said acket and exhausting a cooling medium from the upper end thereof, and a plurality of means positioned in the path of the cooling medium in the jacket for respectively directing portions of the cooling medium over a plurality of successive Zones of the anode of said tube for effectively cooling said anode.

2. In a high power tube system, a mounting for a high power tube of the cylindrical anode` type, and means for suspending the tube with the cylindrical anode thereof depending into a cooling system, said cooling system comprising a jacket having a plurality of substantially concentric sleeve-like members disposed therein and arranged to direct the cooling medium against diderent zones along the length of saidQanode.

A high 'power tube mounting comprising a jacket, means, for supporting a high power tube of the cylindrical anode type in position related to said jacket in a manner where the cylindrical anode depends into the jacket and a plurality of means mounted within said jacket and each concentrically surrounding the cylindrical anode and terminating in successive Zones along the anode for directing a cooling medium against said anode and progressively cooling said anode throughout the length thereof.`

4. In a mounting for a high power tube of the cylindrical anode type, a acket, means for mounting a high power tube in the head of said jacket with said anodefdepending therein, and a plurality of sleeve-like memconcentrically disposed about said anode wiL in said jacket, saidy sleeve-like members being shaped to direct the cooling medium against said anode at a plurality of Zones along the length thereof for maintaining the anode at a uniform temperature throughout its entire area.

5. A mounting for a high power electron tube comprising a jacket, means for mount-- ing the high power tube in the head of the jacket with the anode thereof depending into said jacket, and a plurality of separating walls in said jacket disposed about said anode.

6. In a mounting for a high power tube of the cylindrical anode type, a jacket, means for mounting a tube in the head of said jacket in a manner whereby the cylindrical anode depends within said jacket, means for supplying a cooling medium adjacent the lower extremity of said jacket, means for exhausting said jacket at atmospheric pressure adjacent the upper extremity thereof, and a plurality of cylindrical members nested one with respect to the other, said members each being provided with outstruck projections for predetermining the spacial relationship of said members and supporting said members one with respect to the other 7. In a mounting of a high power tube of the cylindrical anode type, a jacket, means for mounting said tube in said jacket with the anode depending interiorly thereof, means for introducing the cooling medium adjacent the lower extremity of said acket, a header for discharging said cooling medium against the upper extremity of said jacket and a discharge trough open to atmospheric pressure connected with said header for relieving any tendency of back pressure hers in said jacket and enabling said cooling medium to contact with the entire area of said' anode. l

` 8'. A mounting -for a highpower tube of the cylindrical anode type, a jacket, means for mounting said tube within said jacket with the cylindrical anode depending'therein, means for introducing a cooling medium adjacent the lower extremity of said jacket,

means for discharging said cooling medium adjacent the upper extremity of said jacket, a trough open to atmospheric pressure and connected with said last mentioned means, and annular baffle plates connected with the edges of said trough for retaining the discharged fluid within said trough.

9. In amounting for a high power tube of the cylindrical anode type, a jacket in which the anode of said tube depends, means for introducing a cooling medium adjacent the lower extremity of said jacket, means fior discharging the cooling fluid adjacent the upper extremity of said jacket`r a discharge troughconnected to the jacket adjacent the upper extremity thereof, a header, and means for mounting said header from said annular discharge trough, said trough being exposed to atmospheric pressure for relieving the pressure at the head of said jacket and preventing the formation of air pockets within said jacket for effectively distributing cooling fiuid over the surface of said anode.

` In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

JOHN A. VILLOUGHBY. 

